Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-15
A POPULAR PROJECT.

The Tri-City Tramway---A Cores |
pondent Traces the History of the |
Plan TO Connect Two.GStates by |
street Railway.
A correspondent of the Davenport |
Democrat Gazette has dlsbed up the tri- |
city railway project in humorous msn> |
ner. We copy his communication:
About seventeen years ago company
composed of prominent citizens OF Dav-
export and Rock Island, endeavored TO
obtain from congress right OF way
across the government island here, and
the bridges connecting it with the Iowa
and Illinois shores, for a street railway
between the two cities. 1t was not
brought to vote in the house for the
reason that the representative across the
river, and living at Rock Island, bitterly
opposed the project, and his effort Sc
cured its defeat Behind him stood the
ferry monopoly, and it owned him, SO far
as the enterprise was concerned.
Ever since that long ago time. each
succeeding winter has impressed upon
the people of both cities, and of Moline,
and even Milan, the Importance, if not
actual necessity. for tramway across
the bridges and island
Several years ago new company was
formed with this object, and it obtained
charter from the government. granting
The privilege asked. Owing to opposi>
ton in Rock Island; not on the part of
the people, but OF the ferry company and
few merchants who thought their trade
might be injured by this close all the
year connection with Davenport, the
right to use the bridges has not yet been
maize practically available as desired.
Absolute refus Il for road from this side
to enter Rock Island city, after leaving
the bridge, to make its connection there,
has stopped the enterprise. The people
of Davenport, Rock Island and Moline
are now, as they have been for so many
| years, earnestly DESTROYS for this iramway
connection. Ispeak advisedly when
say the people of Rock Island, as well as
OF the other cities. only miserable min
GRITTY, and they governed entirely by sell
fish interests, the Almighty Dollar" pre-
vailing over city patriotism, are oppos
ing what the people of Rock Island
really want There are, indeed, two
Rock Island newspapers row, where there
was but one year ago, demanding this
tramway connection with Davenport.
The mercantile opposition, most ridiCu>
lousy short>sighted from its beginning,
but now growing in intelligence, perhaps
from the facts and figures of it's own
newspapers, must soon cease Then,
nothing is left to oppose the project but
the ferry company.
This brings the question to point
Financially, the ferry company Is right
in making the best fight it can to pre-.
vent the construction of this tramwsy
if it really believes the road will seri-
ously injure the company's profits You
and would or might do the same, if VT
held stock in the company. But unfor-
tu1ately, We don't. The point is shal
this ferry company, as it has done for Il
years at least, longer prevent the peopl,
of Davenport. Rock Island and Mollni
securing what they want-and "wha
they want" meaning what they under
obduu Is ueSL LOT lntlT own INDIVIDUAL ant
corporate interest?
Now this thing has dragged its wear,
length beyond all reasonable endurance
and can no longer be patiently submitted
to. When so many years ago the wishes
if not demands, of these several commu
mites were defeated We regarded tn
final adjustment as mere question o
time, and very short time. Thine" ha
been called, and the combatants are still
in the ring, but now fighting with 'bar
knuck les and to the end, !" and not exact
" according to Queensbury rules We
the people, have been knocked into gu
corner. and SO often. that the Questi0
now is, shall we throw up the sponge, &
again rattle al the mug of the ferry SuIli
vanY
As the old Oriental said, 10 apologiz
for my ring simile), Il speak the laI
d guage of them as can best understand it.
That street railway, connecting the cite
t of Davenport and Rock Island. and tn
g continents of Iowa and Illinois, even
u with no immediate purpose in the yer
: close future Of uniting the Atlantic an
!. Pacific, is bound to be built. and ii
4 quicker it is commenced and complete
a the better; and for that consummstion,
+ shall continue to WHOoP-'ER Up.